Allergy Symptoms and Treatments 101

Miami is in the Top 100 of America’s worst cities for allergies, and allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States. It seems as if it is always allergy season down here in Miami. One of the best parts of living in the Magic City is that it always blooming. This means, however, that all this greenery is spouting pollen, which aggravates allergies. As part of our commitment to you, we have prepared a few guidelines about allergies, in their symptoms and treatment.

Symptoms

An allergic response is an overreaction of the body’s natural defense system. Basically, the body releases a few chemicals when it feels it is under attack. The most prevalent of these chemicals is called a histamine.

Histamines have all sorts of nasty side effects. The most common one is a runny, itchy nose. As part of this, the afflicted person may also sneeze excessively. Allergies impact far more than just your nose. Histamines also have an effect on your throat. An itchy and sore throat also commonly occurs. Eyes may become itchy, or watery. Red eyes happen frequently when the patient suffers from allergies.

There are also a few less common symptoms of allergies. Some people who suffer from allergic reactions experience headaches. In a few cases, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath may occur.

One of the difficulties with allergies is the fact that many of these symptoms are common among many diseases. When you type these symptoms into a search bar, your computer will spit all sorts of results back at you. In order to be properly diagnosed, make a trip to your doctor.

Treatments

The easiest way to treat allergies is to avoid allergens. When smog and pollen levels are high, as reported by your local weather station, it is better to remain indoors. Similarly, keeping your doors and windows closed is a good idea. A few allergens occur inside, so make sure to check and clean your air filters regularly. Also, make sure to wash your sheets frequently.

Once allergies have hit the treatment is a little bit different. Many over-the-counter remedies are available to you. Antihistamines and decongestants may ease your symptoms, and are found in drugstores. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation, so this is the route you will want to take if your itchiness is getting too much for you.

In some cases, the allergens cannot be avoided, and the over-the-counter treatments will not be enough. For these patients, a trip to the doctor will be needed. Your primary care physician might prescribe allergy shots, which is a form of immunotherapy. A local doctor also has medicine that they can prescribe, in the form of tablets or nasal spray.

Anti-allergenic medicines tend to have certain side effects. The one that occurs most frequently is drowsiness. Other side effects may be dizziness or confusion. Make sure to ask your doctor before taking them.

If you have any questions about allergies, please do not hesitate to ask us. Our experienced, highly professional, and knowledgeable staff will help you in any way we can.